Take a close look
at specific wildflowers, birds and butterflies in your backyard and nearby fields, forests, wetlands and woods. You will help to map our living landscape.
What is the Community of Observers?
It's a new way to connect with people who care about the ways our landscape is responding to changes in our ecosystems, especially the effects of shifts in weather patterns due to global climate change.
Observers are citizen scientists who watch and record the habits of specific birds, butterflies and wildflowers in the fields, forests and wetlands they know best. Observers also set up a weather station to measure temperature and precipitation. Over time, these observations will contribute to living maps that describe the nature of our region and how it might be changing.
Find how you can become a Fairbanks Observer.
The region we’re observing:
Sample Observations
Birds
Date: 5-15-13
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Sheffield, VT
Species: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Observation: Saw two hummingbirds.
Weather
Date: 5-18-13
Time: 9:00 pm
Location: Thetford Hill, VT
Temperature (High/Low): 70°/39°
Weather: Mostly sunny
Butterflies
Date: 5-07-13
Time: 12:15 am
Location: Newark, VT
Species: Northern Azure
Observation: One Azure flitting in wet grassy area.
Wildflowers
Date: 5-15-13
Time: 10:35 am
Location: Kirby, VT
Species: Marsh-Marigold
Observation: Marsh marigold growing just past Willoughby View Rd in abandoned roadbed
New from the Blog
They've arrived!
Ruby-Thorated Hummingbirds have arrived in the Northeast Kingdom!
Citizen Science and Students
Local students, grades 3-8, are learning about citizen science and how to apply it in the classroom.
